Senior Researcher and Historian at the Alamo Kolby Lanham will discuss “Revolutions and the Weapons that Won Them,” sharing insights into the history of the artillery used during the Texas Revolution and how artillery from the Alamo is used for public education. Alamo Researcher Thomas Ledesma will reveal the story behind the creation of Mission San Antonio de Valero, the mission the world would come to know as the Alamo.

CLICK HERE to view this program (coming soon)

March 12, 2024

Mike Cox, former journalist and best-selling author of over 40 nonfiction books, will explore two centuries of Texas Rangers history. Elected to the Texas Institute of Letters in 1993 and recipient of the A.C Greene Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, Cox is the author of a widely acclaimed two-volume history of the Texas Rangers,  Wearing the Cinco Peso and Time of the Rangers.

CLICK HERE to view this program (coming soon)

March 21, 2024

Join the Dallas Historical Society as we welcome Dr. Erika Arredondo-Haskins for this FREE evening lecture. Arredondo-Haskins will discuss overlooked stories of women in 18^th-century Texas and their enduring impact on the American Revolution. An 11th-generation Texan, Arredondo-Haskins earned her Ph.D. in Education at the University of the Incarnate Word. Her research background includes women and girls’ leadership in early Spanish Texas history.

April 11, 2024

Dr. Richard B. McCaslin will relate the life and career of Texas Ranger Captain William L. Wright. Dr. McCaslin is the Director of Publications for the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), retired as the TSHA Professor of Texas History at the University of North Texas, and is the author or editor of nineteen books, eight of which received awards. The University of North Texas Press published his biography of Wright in 2021.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS EVENT

April 21, 2024

Don Baynham will describe how Dallas got two Carnegie Libraries and lost them. Baynham retired after a 45-year career with Dallas College. Long interested in history, he has served as Board Chairman of the Dallas Historical Society, Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park, and the Dallas County Historical Commission. He is a current trustee of Old City Park, a board member of Legacy Dallas: The Virtual Museum of Dallas County History, and a Life Trustee of the Dallas County Heritage Society.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS LECTURE

May 14, 2024

Dr. McCaslin will recount the life of sculptor Pompeo Coppini. During a career in the United States that spanned sixty years, Coppini created over 230 sculptures, including the six imposing statues in the Hall of Heroes at the Hall of State. Dr. McCaslin is the Director of Publications for the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), retired as the TSHA Professor of Texas History at the University of North Texas, and is the author or editor of nineteen books, eight of which received awards.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS EVENT

May 23, 2023

Dr. Jody Edward Ginn will explore the careers of the notorious outlaw couple, emphasizing the impact of their crimes on the victims and families affected by their crime spree. Dr. Jody Edward Ginn is a former law enforcement investigator/administrator and U.S. Army veteran who has worked for over two decades as a public historian. He is the author of Palmito Ranch: From Civil War Battlefield to National Historic Landmark and East Texas Troubles: The Allred Rangers’ Cleanup of San Augustine.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS EVENT

June 6, 2024

Dr. Furgerson will examine the aviation factory operated by the North American Aviation (NAA) company in Dallas. He will explore the factory’s construction and opening, operation, relations with the local community, and closure at the war’s end. Furgerson is a professor of history at Collin College, near Dallas, Texas. He holds a doctorate from the University of North Texas, with a concentration in American military history.

June 11, 2024

Writer-historian Rusty Williams will share more stories from his most recent book, Texas, Loud, Proud, and Brash. Williams is the author of five nonfiction books and numerous magazine and journal articles. A former newspaper person, Rusty has written for the Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and the Associated Press.

July 9, 2024

Retired Texas Ranger Lee Young will discuss his 29-year career as a Texas law enforcement officer and the history of the Absentee Seminole Tribe of Texas. A descendant of Seminoles who fled to Mexico in 1850 to protect their freedom. His Great-Great-Grandfather, Sgt. John Ward, a Seminole Indian Scout, was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1875. This heritage has allowed Lee to bring the history, life, and accomplishments of the Seminole Indian Scouts and Texas Rangers into classrooms, cultural centers, service organizations, and professional organizations.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS LECTURE (coming soon)

July 11, 2024

Photographer Ron St. Angelo will present a retrospective of his life and career. A lifelong Texan, St. Angelo has had photographs published in countless books and magazines during his thirty-year association with the Dallas Cowboys. A US Navy Veteran, St. Angelo served two tours of duty in Vietnam. In addition to his work for the Cowboys, he has worked for the Diocese of Dallas and won numerous awards and accolades throughout his career.

October 29, 2024

Join the Dallas Historical Society for An Evening With Joe R. Lansdale on Tuesday, October 29, at 6:30 pm. The legendary author has written over 50 novels, over 30 short story collections, and comics, television, and film scripts. His stories have won ten Bram Stoker Awards, a British Fantasy Award, an Edgar Award, a World Horror Convention Grand Master Award, a Sugarprize, a Grinzane Cavour Prize for Literature, a Spur Award, and a Raymond Chandler Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a member of The Texas Literary Hall of Fame.

Lansdale will discuss his career as a Texas writer and his newest work, In the Mad Mountains: Stories Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft. Copies of In the Mad Mountains will be available for purchase. Register today to reserve your chance to hear a master of Western, horror, science fiction, mystery, and suspense writing discuss his life and work.

CLICK HERE to view this lecture

January 19, 2023

Please join us the afternoon of Thursday, January 19, 2023, for the Dallas Historical Society Centennial Champagne Reception & Open House. This event will be held at the beautifully restored Hall of State in Fair Park, where the Dallas Historical Society’s collection has been housed since 1938. On this special occasion we will be honoring past, present & future Dallas History Makers for their significant contributions to our community. The reception will feature a champagne toast in the Great Hall surrounded by the beautiful architecture and art created for the Texas Centennial in 1936, as well as a specially curated exhibit from our collection of more than three million rare artifacts, including our new interactive Texas Liberty Forever: The Battle of the Alamo diorama.

February 25, 2023

Join the DHS in welcoming Dr. Stephen L. Hardin & Dr. Loyd Uglow as they discuss the Battle of the Alamo and the Runaway Scrape, as part of our Texas Independence Day Celebration.

Dr. Stephen L. Hardin

Stephen L. Hardin is a professor of history at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas.

Author of numerous award-winning books on Texas history and more than a dozen scholarly articles enjoyed by readers on both sides of the Atlantic. Texian Iliad, published in 1994, achieved distinction as a “Basic Texas Book” when bibliophile Mike Cox included it in More Basic Texas Books.

When not engaged in the classroom, he serves as an on-air commentator, appearing on such varied venues as the A&E Network, the History Channel, and NBC’s TODAY show. Most recently, he appeared on the Fox News series, “Legends & Lies.”

Dr. Loyd Uglow

Loyd Uglow holds a master’s degree in history from the University of West Florida, with some coursework from the Naval War College and a Ph.D. in history from the University of North Texas. He chairs the history department at Southwestern Assemblies of God University. His previous books include Standing in the Gap: Army Outposts, Picket Stations, and the Pacification of the Texas Frontier, 1866-1886 (TCU Press), two children’s biographies, and two military historical novels. He is a retired Commander (Surface Warfare) in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

“The Siege and Capture of the Alamo: Strategy, Tactics, and What Ifs”

This presentation will move from the larger strategic context of the Alamo in the Texas Revolution; to an examination of the men, weapons, and tactical deployments on each side and detailed narrative of the capture of the mission; to a look at possible alternative scenarios if forces on one or both sides had taken different courses of action.

February 25, 2023

Join us for a Texas Independence Day celebration. Get a private, up-close look at Texas Liberty Forever! a Battle of the Alamo diorama in person. Proceeds of this event benefit the Dallas Historical Society, an organization devoted to preserving and exhibiting the heritage of Dallas and Texas to educate and inspire present and future generations.

Featuring Music By:

The Mojo Brothers Band

Hosted By:

• Lisa & Clay Cooley
• Jeanette & Stan Graff
• Susan & Bob Jenevein
• Mary & Bill Pickens, Jr.
• Rogge Dunn Group, PC
• Scheef & Stone – Solid Counsel
• Sullivan & Cook, LLC

March 23, 2023

Join the Dallas Historical Society Director of Exhibits Toby Hazelip and Director of Education David Lee for a guided tour of the Texas Liberty Forever! exhibit. Learn how Thomas Feely, Jr. created the massive diorama of the assault on the Alamo, how DHS staff installed the immersive exhibit, and an overview of the siege and battle that has inspired generations of Texans.

Toby Hazelip is the Director of Facilities and Director of Exhibits for the Dallas Historical Society. Toby was instrumental in helping create some of the Historical Society’s most popular exhibits, including Big Texas Music, Texas in the First World War, and Texas Cinema.

David Lee was born in Dallas but grew up in the small town of Scurry, Texas. He has a bachelor’s in Historical Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas and a master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of North Texas at Dallas. He has served as a teacher, professional development trainer, and social studies assessment coordinator and is committed to providing accurate and engaging educational experiences to Texans of all ages. This event is part of Dallas Historical Society’s Texas Independence Day Celebration

March 30, 2023

April 11, 2023

Judith Garret Segura will discuss Our Stories: Black Families in Early Dallas, the book she co-edited with the late Dr. George Keaton, Jr. Our Stories expands upon two works published over 30 years ago by Dr. Mamie McKnight’s organization, Black Dallas Remembered. The book reveals the little-known history of some of Dallas’s earliest Black families and the communities they created. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS LECTURE

April 13, 2023

Author and musician Gene Fowler will discuss the history of music in North Texas from the late 1800s to the 1960s. While often overshadowed by other American cities, Dallas and the surrounding area has a solid musical legacy dating back to the earliest settlers. Fowler will share stories of the artists, venues, and diverse personalities contributing to North Texas musical history.

Gene Fowler is a writer and performer. His work has been published in Oxford American, San Francisco Chronicle, True West, Journal of Texas Music History, and more. In addition to co-authoring Metro Music: Celebrating a Century of the Trinity River Groove with William Williams, Fowler has published Border Radio (with Bill Crawford), Crazy Water: The Story of Mineral Wells and Other Texas Health Resorts, and Mavericks: A Gallery of Texas Characters.

April 27, 2023

May 11, 2023

May 18, 2023

May 23, 2023

John Neal Phillips will outline some of the known Dallas County activities of Bonnie and Clyde, including the County Avenue gunfight of January 6, 1933, and the November 22, 1933, attempt to ambush the outlaws.  Contemporary photographs will be used to support the talk.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS LECTURE

June 13, 2023

Photographer Nitashia Johnson will discuss her project, The Beauty of South Dallas. Both the people and the land of South Dallas are beautiful. Many of the older buildings represent the struggles some people have faced growing up here, and, to me, that defines strength. Many areas within South Dallas are being developed, and I fear gentrification. My goal was to capture the current South Dallas before the future arrives because the people and places of today’s South Dallas are quite beautiful and unique indeed.

June 22, 2023

July 20, 2023

August 24, 2023

Mar. 10, 2022

Mar. 16, 2022

Join the Dallas Historical Society and Deep Vellum Books for a unique lecture/panel discussion series.  Explore Dallas and Texas history with authors and experts who will speak on a range of historical subjects. This month’s panel discussion includes Norma Adams Wade, Patrick Washington, Robert Moore & Dr. Melita Garza, discussing the lasting impact of alternative media and media representation in marginalized communities.

A special thanks to the Moody Fund for the Arts and Humanities Texas for making this in-person and online lecture series possible.

A Look at Little Mexico

A lecture by Sol Villasana

Uptown Dallas was once a thriving community known as “Little Mexico”. At the conclusion of the Mexican Revolution, Mexican immigrants came to Dallas for jobs in such fields as factories, agriculture, and the railroads. By the end of the 20th century, Little Mexico had all but disappeared amidst the high rises, hotels, and office towers of Uptown. Sol Villasana will host a discussion about the neighborhood’s growth, renaissance, demise, and transition.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS LECTURE

Apr. 14. 2022

Jack Walker Drake, a 17-year old junior at Trinity Christian Academy in Addison, has written Preston Hollow – A Brief History published by The History Press and Arcadia Publishing. This 170 page read showcases the rich history of the Preston Hollow neighborhood and includes many personal stories and pictures from longtime residents. The forward is written by another fan of the Preston Hollow district, Dallas Mavericks billionaire owner Mark Cuban. Join us for this collaborative event with Preservation Dallas.

While Preston Hollow – A Brief History has interesting stories about how the area grew from a getaway from Dallas to a thriving neighborhood, the pictures are priceless. Photos show the old town hall which became an Ebby Holliday real estate office, the Preston Royal Theater, The Coffee Cup diner and the evolution of the area schools and churches. Pages are also devoted to the October 2019 tornado.

Prior to the lecture, you are invited to join  Veletta Lill, Marcel Quimby and Dale Sellers at 5:30 for a guided tour of the restoration of the Hall of State building. The tour will conclude shortly before the lecture begins at 6:30. CLICK HERE to learn more.

The Underground Railroad in Texas

By Kyle Ainsworth

Texas is rarely mentioned in the stories recounted of how liberation was pursued by African Americans. Our state’s landscape is bare of monuments to resistance and flight, of the names or narratives of enslaved people who liberated themselves or died trying. When Texans think of emancipation, Juneteenth is likely what comes to mind—the holiday commemorating the 1865 date when Union soldiers landed in Galveston and announced emancipation. However, post emancipation, once in Mexico, the formerly enslaved continued to face many challenges and experienced freedom that was very conditional. The story of liberty in our state is much larger than Juneteenth and it started long before June 19, 1865. Join DHS for a fascinating program about these unknown settlements.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS LECTURE

May 18, 2022

Running With Bonnie & Clyde

Becoming Texans

Pictorial narratives from a 4th generation Texan

A discussion with Texas photographer Byrd Williams and oral historian Dr. Betsy Brody. Byrd Williams IV is not only a 4^th generation Texan, he is a 4^th generation photographer. Dr. Betsy Brody is a professor, Fulbright Scholar, and current ACLS/Mellon Fellow researching Asian foodways in Texas.  “Becoming Texans, Becoming Americans Oral History Collection” is the first collaboration for the pair. The project explores the lived experiences of Vietnamese immigrants and their families as they wove their cultural threads into the fabric of Dallas’ neighborhoods, schools, churches, temples, and jobs.

In this collection of oral history and photography, a Civil War era camera and the processing technique of “swift-toning” were used to produce companion photographs for each oral history. Together, the archived interview and photographs provide a lasting record of this piece of Texas history. Brody and Williams will share stories about the undertaking of this project as well as personal reflections from Williams detailing what it’s like to continue his legacy of the art of photography in Texas.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS LECTURE

History of Dallas in Film Industry

With Bart Weiss, founder of Dallas VideoFest

Bart Weiss is an award-winning independent film and video producer, director, editor, and educator who has lived in Dallas since 1981.  He is mostly known as the director and founder of the Dallas VideoFest. He produces the TV show “Frame of Mind” on KERA TV in Dallas and is the Artistic Director of 3 Stars Cinema. He has traveled to Nigeria, Pakistan, and China to show American Documentaries for the US State Department. He has taught film and video at Texas A&M’s Visualization Lab, Southern Methodist University, the University of Texas at Austin, and West Virginia State College. He is currently an Associate Professor at UT Arlington.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS LECTURE

Aug. 18, 2022

Born and raised in Fort Worth, Lance Tahmahkera has been with Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth for the past 43 years and is currently, the Imaging Department Manager at TH Harris Methodist Outpatient Center – Burleson.  He is a Great-Great Grandson of Comanche Chief, Quanah Parker. With his parents staying close to the Comanche traditions and culture, much of his youth was spent at pow-wows learning family stories about ancestors and the tribal ways. He’s been asked to share those stories with various schools/universities, historical groups and organizations. The stories shared vary from the origins of the tribe, life on the plains and reservation, Cynthia Ann and Quanah Parker to current day events. Also shared are children stories that were passed down through the family.

Dec. 8, 2022

Join us as the Dallas Historical Society welcomes authors Burk Murchison & Michael Granberry for a book signing as they debut their book Hole in the Roof: The Dallas Cowboys, Clint Murchison Jr., and the Stadium That Changed American Sports Forever – a look back at the history of the Dallas Cowboys franchise and Texas Stadium. Please join us for wine, beer, appetizers, and country music followed by a program featuring the authors.

March 25, 2021

Join us for our first off-site “An Evening With” as we tour the most iconic mansion in television history! Viewers will be treated to a private access tour of Southfork Ranch and afterwards hear about the history of Dallas’ most cherished ranch. History at Southfork began in 1978 when Lorimar Productions chose the North Texas showplace as the site for the CBS TV series Dallas. The hit series, which counted millions of viewers across the United States and in 95 countries as fans, was originally broadcast in the United States from 1978 to 1991. The series continues to be broadcast in syndication and still is in first-run status in many countries around the world. Because of the ranch’s high profile on television, the beautiful white mansion, the pool, the barns and surroundings quickly became a tourist mecca.

It is a crazy fun place and everyday is completely different!  The ranch hosts all kind of events; weddings, social events, equestrian experiences, festivals, concerts, drive in movies and even overnight stays at the Ewing Mansion.  The ranch has been filmed for company videos,  reality shows (Real Housewives of Dallas) and both the original and reboot of DALLAS.  Tourists from all over the world come to see where DALLAS was filmed and take a tour of the ranch.  The ranch is still home to livestock, including llamas, miniature horses, quarter horses, American paint horses and of course long horn cattle.

Two Women of Grace who changed Dallas

Kathlyn J. Gilliam & Juanita Craft

A webinar by Constance Harris & G. Chandler Vaughan

Kathlyn Joy Christian Gilliam, civil rights activist and the first African American woman to serve on the Dallas Independent School District’s (DISD) board of trustees. Gilliam played an active role in the fight for civil rights in Dallas, especially in the realm of education . The city of Dallas designated the Gilliam’s House as a historical landmark in 2015, and it was turned into a museum and resource center later that same year. The museum is a historical landmark that serves as a center to train children in Southern Dallas to become future leaders by providing computer literacy courses, reading camps and a debate center. Since her passing in 2011, Gilliam’s vision to improve the lives of African Americans throughout the city through productive dialogue and educational opportunities lives on.

Upon her passing in 1985, Juanita Jewel Craft was perhaps Dallas’ most beloved public figure. Broadly recognized locally for her local activism, grace and fair-mindedness, she was a long-time NAACP organizer and Youth Council advisor, Goals for Dallas participant, Linz Award winner, State Democrat committeewoman and national delegate, preservationist, Dallas city councilwoman and community-based humanitarian. She had a profound record of sustained acts of kindness in both the South Dallas and greater communities.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS LECTURE

April 6, 2021

Why the Next Hip-Hop Mecca Never Got Its Due

Dallas, despite being influencers in both music and dances that have influenced the country, has remained hidden behind Houston’s shadow.

For decades, Houston has been the go-to capital of Texas rap due to its foundation of local labels. Because of this most major labels have largely ignored hip-hop culture, specifically music, outside of Houston area. Dallas, despite being influencers in both music and dances that have influenced the country, has remained hidden behind Houston’s shadow. Join writer and essayist Taylor Crumpton for this riveting dialogue about Dallas’ influence and where she sees the future of the Big D’s music industry going.

April 8, 2021

Join D Mag’s Alex Temblador for this virtual discussion as she explores an array of her past articles and stories that highlight the diversity of Texas’ culture and history, showcasing why it’s important to uplift the stories that haven’t been told.

May 11, 2021

An online conversation with Buddy Barrow &  Rhea Leen Linder

They met at a crucial moment in American history. The stock market had just crashed a few months prior, by 1933, nearly half of America’s banks had failed, and unemployment was approaching 15 million people, or roughly 30 percent of the workforce.  Texas, in particular, was ravaged by the worst drought of the century. Bootlegging was one of the few job opportunities available to the working class. After the abolishment of Prohibition, some unfortunately turned to illegal activities and a life of crime like bank robberies. The life and deaths of this pair were complicated. They live in infamy by the many lives that were impacted. At the time they were killed in 1934, they were believed to have committed 13 murders and several robberies and burglaries, and left family and friends heart broken.

Join DHS, May 11^th for an intimate conversation with living relatives of both Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, better known as the ill-fated romantic partners-in-crime, Bonnie and Clyde. Rhea Leen Linder, niece of Bonnie Parker and Buddy Barrow, nephew of Clyde Barrow. They’ll join us for a virtual discussion and reveal little known family stories about the pair

June 1, 2021

An online lecture by Donald Pinkard

Yates, a perennial Texas High School football power, and one of the few remaining historically black high schools in Texas had challenged for state championship honors for years but had failed to win it all. In 1985, the team achieved its potential and steamrolled the state in legendary fashion. This historic season culminated for Yates in an epic showdown and victory over the reigning kings of Texas high school football, the Odessa Permian Panthers of “Friday Night Lights” fame. “The Great Yates,” a documentary from Dallas film producer Donald Pinkard and director Byron Hunter.

July 8, 2021

In 1942 Neil and Carl Fletcher invented the Corny Dog at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas Texas. The company Fletcher’s Original State Fair Corny Dogs is coming into its 80th year serving the famous meal on a stick through events, concessions, and catering. Fletcher’s is still family owned and operated today.

In 1940, with the Depression still a vivid memory, George Renfro took a big risk for a man with a family. He quit his job selling restaurant supplies and condiments. And with little more than sheer determination and the support of his family, George and his wife, Arthurine, co-founded George Renfro Food Company in the garage of their north Fort Worth home. In their new venture, they distributed packaged spices and pepper sauces throughout Fort Worth and the surrounding areas. Mrs. Renfro’s salsas have been a staple of hot sauce aisles for more than 4 decades.

November 2, 2021

Exploring Texas Food Traditions Across Cultures
A lecture by Nola McKey

Join journalist-turned-culinary historian Nola McKey on a Texas journey as she explores the state’s foodways through heirloom recipes. In this collection of more than one hundred third-generation (and older) recipes, Texans share not only the delicious dishes they inherited from their ancestors but the stories and traditions that accompany them. With a strong focus on Texas’ cultural diversity—recipes include Norwegian rosettes, Italian pizzelle, Czech sauerkraut, Chinese fried rice, Mexican caldo, Wendish noodles, and African American purple hull peas—McKey documents the culinary impact of ethnic groups from around the globe.

Nov. 10, 2021

Featured Book: The River Always Wins: Water as a Metaphor for Hope and Progress by panelist David Marquis.

A meditation on movement of both society and nature, based on the author’s experiences as an activist. In short, aphoristic chapters, Marquis explores the power of force and collectivity through the metaphor of water. As an activist, David Marquis founded the Oak Cliff Nature Preserve in Dallas, and has consulted with the Texas Conservation Alliance since 2011. He brings an unerring belief in the connective and healing power of nature to The River Always Wins.

Moderated by Kathryn Holliday, the discussion features the panelists/topics:

• Samantha Dodd dicsusses Sarah Cockrell’s entrepreneurial work to build bridges, including the iron suspension bridge,  and its impact on the development of the city.
• Molly Plummer  discusses how land use policies around water/waterways were used to shape Dallas’ development.
• David Marquis discusses how environmentalists and activists have helped shape the development of Dallas.

A special thanks to the Moody Fund for the Arts and Humanities Texas for making this in-person and online lecture series possible.

March 10, 2020

Most people may think of ranchers and cowboys as men. But although they are under-chronicled, ranch women work from dark to dark, keeping step with hired hands, brothers, fathers and husbands. They blaze trails through unforgiving scrub. They cook supper and feed bulls. At any given time, they wear the hats-and the gloves-of geologist, veterinarian, lawyer and mechanic. They are fierce and feminine and powerful. Photojournalist and writer Alyssa Banta spent over a year following more than a dozen Texas women through their grueling daily routines, from the messy confines of the working chute to the sprawling reaches of the back pasture. The result of this unprecedented access is an intimate portrait of the challenges and achievements of the ranch women of the Lone Star State, along with the land and livestock that sustain them.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS LECTURE

June 9, 2020

Norm Diamond photographed the last months of a dilapidated, yet beautiful old gym in Dallas, Texas. These stark images could have come from another era. They evoke themes of memory and loss. No modern gym looks like this. The owner, Doug Eidd, a grizzled 87-year-old, opened the gym in 1962. He could have emerged from a time capsule as well. His members did not care that the gym was run down or that Doug smoked cigars most of the day. They respected his expertise and loved the casual atmosphere he created. Although Doug was still fit, he did not resemble the muscle-bound figure of his youth. He knew that time would one day engulf him and the gym. This came to pass in the spring of 2018 when he was forced to close the gym on short notice. Diamond stayed to photograph the removal of the equipment as Doug’s Gym drifted into memory

September 29, 2020

Each page of This Used to be Dallas will challenge your view of the city around you. Author Harry Hall uncovers the stories of perseverance, deliverance, tragedy, and past glory behind Dallas buildings that were once something else. It might be a fallen dream, such as the remnants of a waterpark that briefly dazzled locals in the early twentieth century; or a coffin supply company that once advertised services, Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. There’s the hotel that was built only after the city yielded to the demands of a beer baron and the non-descript Oak Cliff home that once housed America’s greatest female athlete. What might your favorite Dallas buildings house in the future? Each structure has its own background, its own future, its own story. Explore your favorite Dallas spots with a new vision, or discover a surprising past just beyond the familiar walls of the fascinating places throughout the city.

October 13, 2020

Adolphe Gouhenant tells the story of artist, revolutionary, and early North Texas resident Francois Ignace (Adolphe) Gouhenant (1804-1871). Born at the dawn of the Romantic era, Gouhenant traveled from a small village near the foothills of the Alps to France’s second largest city, where he built a monument to the arts and sciences atop Lyon’s famous Fourvière Hill. His wildly ambitious schemes landed him in court and ultimately devastated him financially. Participating in clandestine revolutionary organizations, Gouhenant organized a secret meeting under the guise of a Masonic banquet and was later imprisoned for conspiracy against the monarchy.

November 2, 2020

Exploring Texas Food Traditions Across Cultures
A lecture by Nola McKey

Join journalist-turned-culinary historian Nola McKey on a Texas journey as she explores the state’s foodways through heirloom recipes. In this collection of more than one hundred third-generation (and older) recipes, Texans share not only the delicious dishes they inherited from their ancestors but the stories and traditions that accompany them. With a strong focus on Texas’ cultural diversity—recipes include Norwegian rosettes, Italian pizzelle, Czech sauerkraut, Chinese fried rice, Mexican caldo, Wendish noodles, and African American purple hull peas—McKey documents the culinary impact of ethnic groups from around the globe

November 10, 2020

From Blind Lemon Jefferson and Lead Belly to European immigrant families, Deep Ellum was a vibrant melting pot of cultures and experiences. Please join Dallas City Archivist John Slate as we learn about the diverse history of the Deep Ellum and Central Track neighborhood and its legendary figures.

Historic Deep Ellum:

After the Civil War many ex-enslaved persons settled in what were called “Freedmentowns.”  In Dallas, the railroad helped spawn one of these towns along Elm Street in an area now known as Deep Ellum. “Ellum” is the phonetic spelling of the southern pronunciation of Elm, and deep indicated its far east location in relation to downtown.  Businesses and make-shift houses sprung up around Central Track in an area too far from downtown to be deemed desirable.  During the early 1900’s the area was mostly occupied by African Americans and Jewish immigrants. By the 1920’s these residents had established a community well known for its businesses that provided nearly any kind of merchandise. It also found fame in its nightclubs, which became hotbeds for blues and jazz music

Nov. 17, 2020

From 1865 to 1920, former enslaved persons founded hundreds of Freedom Colonies, or Freedmen’s Towns, across Texas. These African American men and women came together to govern themselves; and to create cohesive communities that could support businesses, schools, and churches. In the Dallas area some of the freedmen’s communities were Deep Elm or “Deep Ellum”, Freedmen’s Town North Dallas or “State Thomas”, the Tenth Street Community, Little Egypt, and Joppa.

About the Speakers:

In 1989, Dallas native Robert Swann came back from Massachusetts with a Masters in Architecture from Harvard University Graduate School of Design and a new way of seeing a familiar neighborhood. For the next nineteen years, Robert observed the decline of Tenth Street from the freeway. In 2008, he took a walk on Tenth Street to find a historic house to make his own. The house he chose and ultimately won was vacant for a reason commonly encountered in freedman’s towns like Tenth Street: “Too many heirs.” Swann’s search for those heirs became a personal quest for the origins of Tenth Street in historical fact. His public advocacy for the preservation of Texas Freedmen’s settlements led to a seat on the Dallas Landmark Commission, where Swann has served since 2017. Robert is artistic director of JazzStand on Abrams, the longest running free jazz concert series in Dallas

W. Marvin Dulaney is Deputy Director and Chief Operations Officer at the Dallas African American Museum. He is also Associate Professor of History Emeritus, the former chair of the Department of History, and the former Interim Director for the Center for African American Studies at the University of Texas, Arlington. He has taught history for forty-two years and published extensively on the history of African Americans in Dallas and in Texas.

Shalondria C. Galimore is a Joppa/Joppee native, born 100 years after the community was founded by Henry Critz Hines, in 1872.  She is the 4th of 5 generation residents.

Ms. Galimore is the President of the South Central Civic League, Joppee’s Neighborhood Association, Precinct Chairman of Precinct #3045, and the Executive Director of Sir Vince Academy Inc. She also serves as the Vice-President of Dallas South Lion’s Club. Her love and zeal for the Joppee Community is unmatched. She spends countless hours, implementing new projects and programs to ensure that her community is well informed of the ongoing changes within the City of Dallas and abroad.

Dec. 3, 2020

At a time when “Friday night lights” shone only on white high school football games, African American teams across Texas burned up the gridiron on Wednesday and Thursday nights. The segregated high schools in the Prairie View Interscholastic League (the African American counterpart of the University Interscholastic League, which excluded black schools from membership until 1967) created an exciting brand of football that produced hundreds of outstanding players, many of whom became college All-Americans, All-Pros, and Pro Football Hall of Famers, including NFL greats such as “Mean” Joe Green (Temple Dunbar), Otis Taylor (Houston Worthing), Dick “Night Train” Lane (Austin Anderson), Ken Houston (Lufkin Dunbar), and Bubba Smith (Beaumont Charlton-Pollard).

In Thursday Night Lights, author Michael Hurd tells the inspiring, largely unknown story of African American high school football in Texas. Drawing on interviews, newspaper stories, and memorabilia, Michael Hurd introduces the players, coaches, schools, and towns where African Americans built powerhouse football programs under the PVIL leadership. He covers fifty years (1920-1970) of high school football history, including championship seasons and legendary rivalries such as the annual Turkey Day Classic game between Houston schools Jack Yates and Phillis Wheatley, which drew standing-room-only crowds of up to 40,000, making it the largest prep sports event in postwar America. In telling this story, Hurd explains why the PVIL was necessary, traces its development, and shows how football offered a potent source of pride and ambition in the black community, helping black kids succeed both athletically and educationally in a racist society.

Mar. 5, 2019

During this Brown Bag Lecture author Mark Stuertz will take you on an excursion through the weird, the wry, and the wonderful idiosyncrasies that comprise Big D. From the Playboy Marfa bunny-with-a-muscle-car sculpture, to the ceaseless failed attempts to navigate the Trinity River, to the invention of the computer chip and German chocolate cake, Dallas is the birthplace of the whimsical, the wistful, and the profound. Secret Dallas answers questions about Big D you never knew you had, catapulting you through a portfolio of little-known but fascinating people, places, episodes, and artifacts. Think of it as a scavenger hunt travelogue, providing insights into hidden rhinestones and diamonds in the caliche. Secret Dallas is a riveting excursion into the city’s odds and ends, where the rare and the phenomenal express the big, the bold, and the brash in everyone.

A nationally award-winning journalist and author, Mark Stuertz has been a Dallas-based writer for more than two decades. His investigative reporting, features, criticism, and business process articles have appeared in a variety of publications including the Dallas Observer, Modern Luxury Dallas, the Dallas Business Journal, Dapper, and Texas Monthly. He has also contributed to national publications including American Way, Spirit, Food & Wine, Wine Enthusiast, Wine Business Monthly, Private Air, and American Driver

March 27, 2019

Nancy Lieberman is a Basketball Hall of Famer, two-time Olympian, first ever female BIG3 head coach, second female NBA assisting coach, first Female Head Coach to lead an NBA or NBA Development League team when she led Dallas Mavericks’ D-League team, the Texas Legends, to the playoffs in their inaugural season, philanthropic leader and proud mom – Nancy Lieberman has been defying the odds since she was a young girl playing basketball in Harlem. Now in her career as an international motivational speaker, you won’t forget the experience listening to “Lady Magic,” a pioneer for women’s sports and ultimate game-changer in life, sharing stories that encourage performing each day at your highest level.

April 9, 2019

Dr. Max Krochmal discusses his book about the other Texas, not the state known for its cowboy conservatism, but a mid-twentieth-century hotbed of community organizing, liberal politics, and civil rights activism. Beginning in the 1930s, Max Krochmal tells the story of the decades-long struggle for democracy in Texas, when African American, Mexican American, and white labor and community activists gradually came together to empower the state’s marginalized minorities. At the ballot box and in the streets, these diverse activists demanded not only integration but economic justice, labor rights, and real political power for all. Their efforts gave rise to the Democratic Coalition of the 1960s, a militant, multiracial alliance that would take on and eventually overthrow both Jim Crow and Juan Crow.

Using rare archival sources and original oral history interviews, Krochmal reveals the often-overlooked democratic foundations and liberal tradition of one of our nation’s most conservative states. Blue Texas remembers the many forgotten activists who, by crossing racial lines and building coalitions, democratized their cities and state to a degree that would have been unimaginable just a decade earlier–and it shows why their story still matters today.

Apr. 16, 2019

Dallas Historical Society will present An Evening With Leonard Volk, moderated by his daughter Alison, as he discusses his family’s history starting with his family coming to Dallas in 1887, his father’s legendary stores, Volk Brothers, which began in 1890, growing up in Dallas and how it has changed, his illustrious career in architecture and his community service career where he made a difference in the Dallas community. Visitors can also view many of his photographs from Dallas past and present.

Items from the Dallas Historical Society’s Volk Collection will be on display. Volk will be selling and signing his book, Everyday, a collection of his photographs, after the talk.

May 8, 2019

Pedro Perez II, Alegre Ballet Folklorico founder and director, has been in Folklorico for 30 years. Born and raised in Oak Cliff, Texas, Pedro has always had a love for the artistry and beauty of Mexican and Latino Culture.

At an early age, Pedro was given the option to “give folklorico a chance” at Winnetka Elementary School to see if he liked it. He enjoyed it, but never expected it to take the turn that it took. In May 1988, Pedro’s parents found Manuel and Guadalupe “Wally” Godinez and the Ballet Folklorico Hispano de Dallas; quickly, Pedro was enrolled. It was with Hispano de Dallas and the hard work and effort of the Godinez Family that changed and shaped the admiration, love and dedication that Pedro has for Folklorico today! It was here that rhythm and technique was taught and blossomed. With Ballet Folklorico Hispano de Dallas, Pedro performed across the state in the most prestigious venues. In 1992, Ballet Folklorico Hispano de Dallas was given the honor of dancing for Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Also in 1992, Pedro was asked to teach his fellow students at the Government and Law Magnet High School. In May of 1992 and May of 1993, he put the Law Magnet Cinco de Mayo dance program together for his school. In September 1993 Manuel and Wally decided to take a break from Folklorico. Pedro tried other local groups out, as well as flamenco, but his friends and classmates suggested he start a group outside the school. This began Alegre Ballet Folklorico.

Along with dance and choreography, Pedro has taken on the task of designing and making several of Alegre’s costumes. Pedro has been recognized for his work and collection of regional outfits and has begun to exhibit and discuss them. Outside of Alegre he has worked with TeCo Theatrical Productions as a costume designer, stage manager, and actor.

Pedro has taught in schools and recreation centers throughout the Dallas / Fort Worth area. He has been asked to judge several competitions and even given workshops in and out of Dallas. Although he never expected it to go this far, Pedro looks forward to knowing Alegre Ballet Folklorico will succeed with him and after him.

May 14, 2019

Viola Delgado is an imaginative artist, painter, and sculptor who is driven by an incredible passion for self-expression through art. Her works are often noted for their unique simplicity, vivid color, and elegant geometrics. Delgado has developed an innovative style that blends precise realism with abstract expressionism. Her use of vibrant colors and strong lines makes her work an excellent choice for a wide range of projects and purposes.

Her research into the culture and history of a project have made her a sought after artist for a number of public and commercial projects in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Delgado’s murals can be found at the Latino Cultural Center, Dallas; Stevens Park and Tolbert Elementary Schools, Dallas; the Dallas West Library Courtyard; the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Station; and Vickery Village/Buckner Baptist Children’s Home, Dallas. One of her extraordinary medallions is located on the Departure Concourse of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

June 11, 2019

Written by award-winning travel writer and native Texan June Naylor, Texas Landmark Cafes describes what knowledgeable locals have long known about their best diners, steak houses, barbecues and seafood joints, from El Paso to Longview, and what to order when you get there. What the critics say: “You’ll never go hungry if you pack this book, which covers the state’s four major good groups: barbecue, steaks, Tex-Mex and pie.” – Dallas Morning News  “No matter what part of the state you’re headed for, this cute and handy new guide has you covered with capsule descriptions and ordering suggestions.” – Fort Worth Star-Telegram

June 19, 2019

Donald Payton is president of the African American Genealogy Interest Group, which is a branch of the Dallas Genealogical Society.  Mr. Payton has spent more than 35 years tracing family histories and doing historical workshops across America. He is a former Dallas County Historical Commissioner who served on a special state committee to make June 19th an official Texas state holiday.  In addition, he has presented numerous Juneteenth workshops and programs in various states.  Mr. Payton has also been featured in national media news events and interviews.

Mr. Payton’s presentation will be followed by selections from The South Dallas Concert Choir. The South Dallas Concert Choir performs a diverse repertoire of classical music, show tunes, contemporary gospel, and Negro Spirituals.

CLICK HERE to view a performance from this concert

July 9, 2019

Veteran historian T. Lindsay Baker brings his considerable sleuthing skills to the dark side, leading readers on a fascinating tour of the most interesting and best preserved crime scenes in the Lone Star State. Gangster Tour of Texas traces a trail of crime that had its beginnings in 1918, when the Texas legislature outlawed alcohol, and persisted until 1957, when Texas Rangers closed down the infamous casinos of Galveston

August 13, 2019

Dr. Janice Franklin has extensive professional experience in musical theatre as a music director and producer in Dallas and New York, and in jazz performance through ensemble and recording studios. She was twice nominated for the Leon Rabin Outstanding Music Director award. As a composer, she has created and produced two original musical theatre works.  Dr. Franklin has served as President of the Board of Directors for S.T.A.G.E., and as a Board member for several arts organizations.

September 10, 2019

Grab your popcorn and join John Slate, Dallas city archivist and published scholar of Texas film history, as he takes you on a trip around the state and its many connections to Hollywood. Slate’s illustrated talk will include stories of both well-known and forgotten actors from Texas, the history and development of the Texas film industry, and fascinating episodes from Texas film folklore.

November 12, 2019

Texas Dames: Sassy and Savvy Women Throughout Lone Star History recounts how these “Dames” broke gender and racial barriers in every facet of life. Some led the way as heroines while others slid headlong into notoriety, but nearly all exhibited similar strands of courage and determination to wrest a country, a state and a region from the wilds